Kurhaus - the casino

At one end of the Lichtentaler Allee is the Kurhaus or the casino which gives Baden-Baden that decadent outlook. It is a grand structure, built in the early 19th century, with Corinthian columns and beautiful facade. It is designed on the lines of a luxurious French chateau, which was all the rage of the era in which it was built. While it looks majestic and imposing from the outside, it will stun and awe if you look inside. It has rich stately rooms with arched ceilings, beautiful chandeliers and rich period furniture, and looks nothing like the casinos that are common in Las Vegas or other casino-rich cities. The rooms have roulette tables, slot machines and other casino games, but there’s a permeating air of refinement and grandeur which negate any associations of crassness. There are also many intriguing stories around this place including the fact that Dostoeyevsky loved it, gambled away all his money and used the experience in The Gambler.